~ "In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't." – Blaise Pascal

Have you sealed up the very fountain for which you are thirsty?

Today is a guest post by Tim Fall. I appreciate his honest thoughts in this post, and hope you will too. Thanks Tim!

Yeah, I’ve Been That Guy

In The Four Loves C.S. Lewis discusses people who act in unlovable ways and notes, “They seal up the very fountain for which they are thirsty.” He explains that they want love and affection, but their behavior shuts themselves off from receiving it from others. I’ve been that guy.

I have lashed out angrily at petty inconveniences and when a friend has lovingly and wisely tried to help me see the other person’s view, rejected their insights and then – what’s worse – turned my anger against that friend for not taking my side.

I have sulked at minor accusations and slights to my character and when a friend has assured me that no one who knows me well believes those accusations, shut that friend down as not understanding at all what I am going through.

I have covered myself with self-pity like a rash from head to toe and when a friend has offered to help me see a way out of whatever was bothering me, rejected that help because what I wanted instead was someone to help me pick at the scabs.

Yeah, I’ve been that guy, the one who seals up “the very fountain”, the fountain of affection, friendship and love for which I thirst. Even worse, I used to be that way with Jesus, the best friend I could hope for. (John 15:15.)

Drinking From the True Fountain

Similar to how we shut out friends, people can seal themselves off from the fountain of life himself, Jesus. (Psalm 36:9; John 4:14.) The Bible calls this hardening hearts. (Psalm 95:8; Ephesians 4:17-19.) People separate themselves from God by actions and choices. (Isaiah 59:1-2.) Yet unlike friends who may feel the sting of rejection and leave us alone, God still wants us and pursues us. (Isaiah 62:8-12.)

That’s why Jesus came, to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10.) God the Son came to set captives free, even those who are captive to their own sinful choices. (Luke 4:18-19; Romans 5:8.) He came to give us more life than we could hope to attain on our own. (John 10:10.)

When God gives, he gives to overflowing. (Psalm 23:5; Joel 2:24; Luke 6:38.) I like how Nancy Spiegelberg put it:

“Lord I crawled across the barrenness to you with my empty cup uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known you better I’d have come running with a bucket.”

Jesus held the cup of never ending water to my parched lips, and now I drink in him by the bucket load.

Questions: When are you most likely to seal yourself off from God’s blessings? Why?

[Biography: Tim is a California native who changed his major three times, colleges four times, and took six years to get a Bachelor’s degree in a subject he’s never been called on to use professionally. Married for over 24 years with two kids (one in college and one just graduated, woo-hoo!) his family is constant evidence of God’s abundant blessings in his life. He and his wife live in Northern California. Tim guest posts on other peoples’ blogs, but is too lazy to get a blog of his own.]

I love this–especially the quote about running to Jesus with a bucket! Need to do that. I’ve been on the receiving end of this–when someone I loved sealed themselves off from life abundant, and even from what I and others who loved them wanted to give them. It’s hard to watch. I want to think about ways in which I can access the fountain–ways I may not realize that I am missing out on! Great piece Tim.

I think I seal myself off from God’s blessings by never letting others know my needs or allowing people to help me. I am VERY independent. Emphasize very! Yet, as believers we are supposed to be interdependent – like a family – helping others, and them helping us.

I loved the running to Jesus with a bucket quote too. Thanks again Tim for contributing this post.

It’s funny but I’ve had that Bill Withers song running through my head, Lean On Me. He sings about how we can’t expect help from others if we don’t let them know we’re in need. I am right there with you, Laura, on sometimes keeping that kind of thing to myself too.

In addition to the traits you named, I am most prone to seal myself off from God’s blessings when my life is going well. I settle into the subtle deception that I am somehow responsible for those blessings.

Great post and great ending question. I think I’m most likely to seal myself off from God’s blessings by not going to Him daily and putting other things first consistently, despite my best wishes and prayers not to. Instead, I fill up my time with other things — that, they do not dishonor God in and of themselves, they do not draw me closer to Him if I am avoiding Him in the process. I wonder why it’s so much in human nature to avoid God when He’s the reason for everything — especially when we know it?

That is so me too, Rachel, “avoiding Him in the process.” Even though I know from experience that looking to God at all times makes the process and conclusions alike better, I still don’t always do that. Like you say, this is hard to understand why we would do this. It reminds me of Paul’s lament in Romans 7, doing the things I don’t want to do and not doing the things I do want to do. Oh well, at least we’re in good company!

First off, very cool that you can say if you are at fault. Supposedly guys aren’t very good at admitting such things. I love that this entry is pretty much to the point and really expresses the truth in such a beautiful way.
Sorry I took so long to read this entry! I’m working my way through your emails!
I haven’t read this C.S. Lewis book. Sounds like a very good one (though most of his books I’ve enjoyed).

Thanks for coming by, Victoria. I think a lot of guys admit their faults, but I wonder if there is a difference in the way men and women express this type of thing so the admissions aren’t as recognizable to one another?

Most of the guys I’ve come across in my life have a pride in being tough guys and not being soft and open. I do know a couple of guys who are willing to admit their faults, but many keep it in or feel that it deprives them of being “manly” in sharing them. I do however believe that Christ strips that pride away.